Loose-leaf binder.



. No. 762,427. A PATENTED JUNE 14, 1904.

' S. H. MITCHELL.

I LOOSE LEAF BINDER. APPLIOATION rILm 00T. 1s. 190s.

UNITED STATES STEPHEN H.. MITCHELL,

Patented June 14, 1904.

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Loose-LEAF BINDER.

vSPEC-IF'ICATIION forming part of `Letters Patent No. 762,427, datedJune 14, 1904. Application filed October 19, 1903. Serial No. 177,566.(No modell.)

To rl/Z whoml it may con/cern,.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN H. MITCHELL,y

aeitizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Chicago, inthe county of Cookand- State of Illinois, haveinvented certain .new

and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following issuch a full, clear,

ledgers, and has special reference to the means for causing the coversto move toward oraway from each otherand for locking the device after.the leaves have been inserted. The invention consists in certainnovelfeatures hereinafter rst fully described and then l particularlypointed out in the claims.

i In the annexed drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure li.s a ,View look? ingat'the inner side of the end or back of the binderand showing it adjusted to permit the insertion of the leaves. Fig. 2 isa side view of the same. Fig. 3gis a view similar to Fig. 2, but showingthe device closed. j Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken between therack-bars and t adjacent end of the binder, andrFig. 5 isa etailperspective View of vthe locking device.

AA and at or near the ends of the saine are formed rack-bars D, and on.the edges of the ends of the upper member E of the back A are formedinwardly-projectingiianges F, having rack-bars G formed on their rearfaces in the same plane with the rack-bars I). A shaft or rotatable rodH extends along the backA and is provided with pinions I, meshing withthe .rack-bars D and Cr, whereby when the rod is rotated the rack-barswill be caused to slide in opposite directions, so as to move-the coverstoward or away from each other. The movement of the covers will causethe posts B to be extendedl or contracted, as will be readilyunderstood. y

One end of the shaft or rod H is extended beyond the adjacent pinion andis given an angular. formation, as sho'wn at J. Mounted is a plate K,having a pintle L at its lower end projecting over the adjacentrack-bar. Pivotally hung on this pintleL is a pawl M, adapted to engagethe rack-bar and held normally in engagement therewith by a spring N,secured on the pintle and bearing on the back of the pawl, as clearlyshown. The end of the pawl is formed into a tooth O, having its upper orouter face arrangedpapproximately perpendicularly to the teeth of therack-bar, while its under or inner face is beveled or arranged morenearly parallel to the outer ends of the teeth. By this formation Ipermit the covers to be readily moved together to hold the leavesinserted therebetween; but an accidental or unauthorized attempt toseparate the covers will be prevented -by the tooth dropping into thespace ybetween the adjacent teeth of the rack-bar, and thereby lockingthe rack-bar against movement. Movement of the opposing racktheinability of the pinion to rotate. l Projecting from the outer face ofthe pawl is an arm P, which extends -over the angular en d of the rod orshaft H and has its extremity formed into a finger Q, having -a beveledorinclined lower edge which isfnormally close to the said angular end ofthe rod or shaft H. lWhen. it is desired to open the binder in order toinsert a leaf or number of leaves, it is nccessaryto usea key R, whichis inserted throughlthe ends of the members of the back and engaged onthe angular end o f the shaft The end of 'the key strikes against theinclined edge of the finger Q, and thereby lifts or pushes the same awayfrom the shaft, and consequently disengages the pawl from the rack-bar.If the key be then bar isasimultaneously prevented, because of' on therod in juxtaposition to the saidpinion l rack-bars caused to recede fromeach other.

The rack-bars being formed on the members of the back the said memberswill be caused to move away from cach other, so as to un cover the pinportions of the telescopic posts, and consequently permit the insertionor removal of a leaf. Slots S are formed in the ends of the back membersto facilitate the insertion of the key and permit the members to slidepast the key in the operation of the device.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it is thought the operation and advantages of mydevice will be readily appreciated. The parts of the device are few and'simple in construction and are all within the side lines of the same, soas to be protected against breakage through sudden sharp blows.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, iss 1. In a binder, the combination of thetelescoping back members, rack-bars on said members, pinions engagingthe said rackbars, means for rotating the pinions to actuatc "maaartheir inner faces, pinions engaging saidracln bars, a shaft carryingsaid pinions and. having an angular end adapted to be engaged by anoperating-key, and a pawl engaging one of the rack-bars, and having anarm projecting over the angular end of the shaft and provided with aninclined edge adapted to be engaged by the operating-key.

In testimony whereof ll have. signed this speciiication in the presenceet' two subscribing witnesses.

STEPHEN H. MTCHELL Vifitnesses: l

JoHN RomNsoN, "WILLIAM lul. SrunLDs.

